Chapter 913: People Are Truly Different_2

Then, as if recalling something, he hurriedly asked, “Chef Zhao… when Chef Fu was tying the chicken, it seemed like he wasn’t using cotton string, right?”

The kitchen usually uses cotton string for tying, as it’s easy to bind and untie.

But in the video, it’s clear that Fu Yu is using something other than cotton string; it seems tougher and more resilient.

Upon hearing this, Zhao Meng glanced at Sun Mingze, nodding approvingly, “Hmm!”

Sun Mingze immediately became curious.

Cotton string is used quite frequently in the kitchen for cooking meat, steaming crabs, and stuffing dishes… Using cotton string prevents the meat from becoming loose during extended cooking time or the separating of fat and lean meat layers due to rising steam.

Cotton strings also hold up well under long durations of high heat, with excellent heat resistance.

But…

Fu Yu wasn’t using cotton string, so what was he using?

Sun Mingze quickly realized that the replacement string must be more effective than cotton string, or rather, more convenient and effective for this particular dish, the gourd chicken.

Because tying up the chicken is different from other ingredients.

The method for making gourd chicken is very complex; it needs to be boiled, steamed, and finally fried.

While cotton string is good, handling both boiling and frying might be too much for it.

If the cotton string breaks during the cooking process, the entire dish would be ruined.

To achieve the best results, you must choose a more durable and tough string.

For instance…

Sun Mingze turned to look at Zhao Meng.

Zhao Meng explained, “He’s using hemp twine.”

Sun Mingze looked closely at the screen; Fu Yu’s hand speed was too fast. Before he could distinguish the differences between the hemp twine and the cotton string on the chicken, it was already submerged in the broth.

Sun Mingze was so absorbed in watching that he momentarily forgot his fear of Zhao Meng, casually asking, “Chef Zhao, the video speed is too fast. I can’t quite see what Chef Fu is doing. Can we slow it down a bit?”

Zhao Meng was taken aback. He hadn’t realized that while he could see clearly, his assistants couldn’t keep up with the speed of Fu Yu’s cooking. Their culinary skills weren’t yet at that level.

So he nodded and instructed Sun Qingning, “Xiaosun, slow down the video.”

Sun Qingning quickly got up, handled the mouse, and soon slowed down the video speed.

As Zhao Meng watched the screen, the steaming process was edited out. The video showed Fu Yu placing the whole chicken in the steamer, covering it, with a text display of the time.

When the steaming was done, the video showed Fu Yu lifting the lid to reveal the steamed chicken.

In the pot, hot oil was heated to around eighty percent, and he placed the steamed chicken inside, stirring with a ladle.

Watching the video, Zhao Meng closely observed those hands deftly holding the ladle, accurately adjusting the chicken’s frying angle.

The more he watched, the more his brow furrowed slightly!

“Xiaosun, I told you to slow it down, did you put it on -0.5? Move it directly to -1.”

Sun Qingning was stunned. He had already slowed it down; this was playing at -1 speed?

“Chef Zhao, this is already at -1 speed. Slower would be -2.”

Zhao Meng was instantly perplexed, “How is that possible? There’s no need for such speed at turning during frying when the oil temperature is right. All that’s needed is…”

Halfway through, Zhao Meng suddenly fell silent.

Sun Qingning and the others looked expectantly at Zhao Meng, noticing his sudden look of realization, fueling their curiosity!

Someone bravely suggested, “Chef Zhao, the speed is still a bit fast. Maybe we should slow it down more?”

Zhao Meng nodded but didn’t speak further.

He glanced at the time displayed on the video progress bar, struggling to believe it!

He had been focusing on the content and hadn’t noticed that the recording of Fu Yu’s cooking was only twenty minutes long.

Although the boiling and steaming parts were edited out, his experience suggested the entire dish should take about an hour.

After doing the math, Zhao Meng was shocked!

How is that possible?

Though he hadn’t cooked this dish before, he knew from self-assessment that going through the entire process mentally, he would need nearly two hours to complete it.

Not to mention how complex deboning a whole chicken is. Simply tying it up involves so many steps; how could it be done in less than an hour?

Yet Fu Yu managed to debone and tie the whole chicken in less than half an hour.

What kind of speed is this?

Deboning a whole chicken involves removing every bone, from the big ones to the joints—an extremely tedious task. Just ensuring not to damage the tissues near the membrane requires steady technique. If done too quickly, the chicken meat would shred, affecting the final tied presentation.

But the video was clear: it was Fu Yu’s cooking process!

This forced Zhao Meng to cast aside disbelief, replacing it with undeniable shock!

As the saying goes, newcomers emerge, and talents flourish.

He hadn’t expected a talent to truly emerge from under his wing.

Zhao Meng stared at the video, taking a deep breath, and addressed his subordinates earnestly, “You might all know, Fu Yu joined us after graduating from culinary school, recommended by his school to work in our kitchen. He’s only been here almost a year.”

“When he started, he was like you, starting out as a helper, with daily tasks involving basic chopping.”

“Do you know why he’s been able to stand out among the crowd so quickly?”

When Zhao Meng spoke, everyone’s attention immediately shifted towards him.

Especially for those who joined at the same time as Fu Yu, their expressions immediately became very complex.

In their view, the reason Fu Yu was able to transition smoothly and take on orders independently was because he somehow suited Chef Zhao’s disposition and caught his eye.

Having the support of a head chef naturally leads to success.

However, now watching Fu Yu’s cooking operation on video.

Their previously deep-set beliefs started to waver.

Is it really as simple as they thought?

Zhao Meng continued, “Not just because he has exceptional talent, but because he is very hardworking and particularly capable. You’ve all had long working days; after hours, what are you doing? Resting in your dormitories? Meeting with friends? I noticed Fu Yu staying late every night to practice his knife skills secretly in the kitchen.”

“Every improvement he made didn’t come from nothing. Even if a master is willing to guide you, achieving progress and mastering skills relies on your own efforts.”

“Who among you stays late every day to practice cooking in the kitchen and still performs work effortlessly the next day? Who among you completes all the tasks I assign thoroughly?”

“Fu Yu can do it. No matter how tired or hard it is, he never complained.”

“So often, to earn the favor of others, besides having talent, one must also be sufficiently diligent.”

“To excel in a job, other than perseverance, most importantly, it must stem from passion. Only when you genuinely love your work will you be willing to put your heart into doing it well.”

When Zhao Meng finished speaking, for some reason, almost everyone thought of Fu Yu making the news today.

At the time, watching the news, they only felt Fu Yu was pretty bold, willing to forgo a chance to appear at the Provincial Gourmet Association to help the police break a black workshop—something not everyone could do.

Now hearing Zhao Meng, they suddenly realized Fu Yu genuinely loves being a chef and approaches life with a positive attitude.

It’s only because of that he was able to make such an unwavering choice when faced with the matter.

Could any one of them make the same choice?

Upon reflection, it seemed improbable.

Looking at the diverse expressions of those around him, Zhao Meng shook his head helplessly and was about to continue when the conference room door suddenly swung open from the outside.

Everyone in the room turned their heads to see Gu Yunwu walking in with a cheerful smile.